Driving in France vs Paraguay: Key Differences You Need to Know
When traveling between France and Paraguay, understanding the distinct road regulations is essential for safe navigation. Notable contrasts include speed limits, where France allows higher speeds, and bus lane usage, which is more restrictive in Paraguay. Equip yourself with this knowledge to enhance your driving experience abroad and ensure your journey is secure.
Lanes
| France | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
paraguay:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
france:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| France | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Paraguay |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
paraguay:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
paraguay:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| France | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
paraguay:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | More frequent than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
france:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| France | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| France | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
paraguay:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
paraguay:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days